Charging station for electric vehicles as well as interface device in such a charging station and method for operating a charging station

Abstract

Provided is a charging station for electric vehicles. The charging station includes a charge control circuit designed to control a charging process of an electric vehicle at the charging station, a communication module having a charge control interface designed for communication with the charge control circuit, and an operator interface designed for communication with a control centre external to the charging station. A first protocol is implemented in the operator interface for communication with the control centre. Improved interoperability is ensured by providing an interface device arranged at the operator interface in the charging station. This interface device communicates with the operator interface by means of the first protocol and with the external control centre by means of a second protocol which is different from the first protocol.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application is a continuation of PCT / EP2016 / 062400, filed Jun. 1, 2016, which claims priority to German Application No. 10 2015 113 799.2, filed Aug. 20, 2015, the entire teachings and disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.FIELD OF INVENTION[0002]The subject matter relates to a charging station for electric vehicles. The subject matter further relates to an interface device in such a charging station and to a method for operating a charging device.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0003]These days, charging stations communicate with a control centre via a data connection. Such a control centre forms a so-called back end, by means of which charging processes can be started and stopped with the charging station via the data connection. In addition, fault analyses and remote maintenance can be carried out in the charging stations via the back end.[0004]As part of setting up a charging infrastructure, initia...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]By this means, a charging station can, for example, be adapted in such a way that it can be operated by a new charging station operator with a different back end system than the previous one. A manual exchange of hardware within the charging station can be dispensed with. It is also not necessary to send a technician to the charging station to configure the charging station for the new back end system.

[0026]It is also proposed that the interface device is designed to receive an identification module for a wireless communications network. In particular, the communication module is suitable for performing an identification within a communications network. The communications network is preferably a cellular mobile communications network. The identification module is preferably a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), as is usually used in mobile communications networks. This identification module also enables encrypted communication to take place between the interface device and the control centre. In addition, it is possible for a closed user group to be directly communicated with in the mobile communications network by means of the identification module, in particular within the framework of a so-called Virtual Private Network (VPN). Here, the communication between the interface device and the control centre can be established via a so-called VPN tunnel, so that the communication can be carried out securely via an otherwise public communications network.

Problems solved by technology

The problem is, however, that there is still no sufficiently specified protocol which ensures standardised communication between charging stations or charge controllers of different producers with back end systems.

There is a further problem that as a result of the distributed infrastructure an exchange of communication modules, which are installed in the charging stations for communication with back end systems, is extremely complex.

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